Sochi F2: Zhou wins truncated sprint race after huge crash

Firstly of the race, Jack Aitken made a rapid begin from third on the grid to cross Nikita Mazepin and problem Guanyu Zhou for the lead into Flip 2.

Nonetheless, Aitken’s cost didn’t final for lengthy and Mazepin repassed him on the second lap, earlier than he was demoted to fourth by Prema’s Mick Schumacher, who had made a lightning begin from eighth following his victory in Saturday’s characteristic race.

Out entrance, Mazepin had introduced the deficit to Zhou all the way down to below half a second when the race needed to be crimson flagged on Lap Eight following an enormous crash between Aitken and the Hitech of Ghiotto.

Ghiotto handed Aitken for second heading into Flip 2, however the Campos driver tried to retake the spot into the lengthy Flip Three left-hander. As they drove side-by-side, Aitken hit Ghiotto’s Hitech, sending each automobiles straight into the boundaries.

The race was red-flagged instantly on account of harm sustained to the boundaries, and Ghiotto’s automotive was later seen catching hearth, probably attributable to a gas leak.

Each automobiles have been retrieved and FIA race director Michael Masi was seen on the crash web site to evaluate the harm to the boundaries, however after 25 minutes of ready a call was made to not restart.

With lower than 75% of the race distance accomplished, solely half the factors have been awarded to the highest eight finishers.

Zhou was declared the race winner, scoring his maiden victory in his sophomore season within the class, whereas Mazepin completed second forward of championship chief Schumacher.

Aitken and Ghiotto have been labeled fourth and fifth respectively because the outcomes have been taken on the finish of lap 5, whereas Purple Bull/Honda junior Yuki Tsunoda was labeled sixth forward of title rival Callum Ilott (Virtuosi).

DAMS driver Dan Ticktum picked up half a degree for ending eighth.

Carlin’s Jehan Daruvala was working behind teammate Tsunoda, however was handed a five-second penalty for not following the proper process to rejoin the monitor after working broad at Flip 2, dropping him all the way down to 11th.

F2 Sochi dash race outcomes: